Ch.54Dragon Clan and Demon Clan (7)

# Dragon Tribe and Demon Tribe (7)

The battle didn’t last long.

Esmeralda, who had claimed it was nothing, didn’t hold back against her opponents, contrary to what she’d thought.

Of course, that doesn’t mean she killed them.

She just roughed them up a bit.

After all, these people had tried to kill her first. Cutting off a few limbs couldn’t really be considered a major offense.

She’d cut them cleanly so they could be reattached later when they got outside, so they should actually be grateful.

“Good. Now you all seem ready to have a conversation.”

Esmeralda sighed deeply as she glared at the disassembled humans sprawled on the floor.

Despite her words, it had been quite a fierce battle. Each one of them was a powerful fighter with a level exceeding 200.

To defeat them with her injured body, she needed a compromise.

So she started by cutting off their limbs.

Once she used her sword technique to slice off the wrist of the weakest-looking rear guard, the rest was simple.

From the beginning, Esmeralda had no penalty when facing multiple opponents.

Her sword technique was effective both in one-on-one combat and against multiple enemies.

“For an academic organization, you all have pretty good combat abilities.”

“……”

“Fine. Since you seem determined not to speak even after such pleasantries, I’ll prepare myself accordingly.”

Well, despite saying this, Esmeralda could simply read their surface thoughts. Still, she needed to create the right atmosphere to make them think more.

Esmeralda deliberately created a hostile atmosphere to pressure them.

“Why is the Eye of Truth investigating this ruin?”

“Hah! Is there any reason why the Eye of Truth shouldn’t investigate ruins?”

“That’s true.”

Esmeralda decided to approach the woman who had become incapacitated just from having her wrist cut off, yet still had a functioning mouth.

The two men had kept their mouths firmly shut earlier, so it seemed better to deal with her.

She was putting on a brave front despite the extreme situation.

“Then why attack us instead of just exploring the ruins?”

“Imperial law allows for the immediate execution of grave robbers without consequence.”

“Haha, bullshit. You said you couldn’t leave us alive after we saw this, didn’t you?”

From the beginning, this trio had revealed some information.

They probably thought they could easily handle the injured Esmeralda and Lug.

“And calling us grave robbers is harsh. You seem to have recognized who I am right after the battle.”

The sword technique is a talent that belongs to the holy sword and was cultivated by Esmeralda.

In other words, it’s exclusive to heroes.

Of course, there might be others who use sword techniques differently from her. But with such clear characteristics, there’s no reason not to identify her as a hero.

Blonde hair, green eyes, sword technique, and a holy sword that anyone would recognize as special.

They pretended not to know while actually knowing.

Or rather, they didn’t care.

“If you’re from the Eye of Truth, you’d know about Tina, and the fact that you didn’t hesitate to attack me despite knowing that means…”

It means the contents of this mural were far more important than the existence of a hero.

Esmeralda felt disappointed.

If this was the will of the Eye of Truth, then Tina would be no different.

She had thought the Eye of Truth organization was hiding something, but she didn’t know they were this sinister.

Weren’t they worse than the Celestial God’s Order?

Especially since there were no noticeable rumors about them publicly.

“Is your goal to confirm this mural? Or…”

Esmeralda tried to recall why they had attacked her and examined the mural in detail again.

People serving dragons.

Their organization and symbol.

The Eye of Truth.

“Are you trying to erase the mural?”

Esmeralda was able to get an answer without hearing a single word.

Considering the recent actions of the dragon tribe, it wouldn’t be strange for them to try to erase the history that forms the foundation of their organization.

They’re probably trying to prevent external organizations from using it as leverage to attack them.

But is that really all there is to it?

“I’ve heard that the dragon tribe was considered quite wise before they started rampaging recently.”

Although they’re now viewed similarly to demon tribes due to their indiscriminate attacks on humans and demons, they weren’t fools.

They may be acting like idiots right now, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking. So what’s the best approach? Why deliberately act like fools?

“…It seems you’ve done an excellent job of deceiving people. The Eye of Truth is an organization created by the dragon tribe, isn’t it?”

The content of this mural is true.

But they might not be trying to erase it because they consider it shameful.

Rather, because it’s the truth, because they still serve the dragon tribe.

That’s why they might be trying to hide it.

Esmeralda glanced at Lug and thought. Could an idiot really operate covertly in the human world?

Look at Lug. Doesn’t it seem impossible at first glance?

Yet even Lug is hiding something.

Yes, the dragon tribe’s sudden idiotic behavior might be a deliberate act to exploit this gap in perception.

Who would suspect them if they acted like complete fools while operating covertly?

Aren’t the dragon tribes now considered just beasts compared to their past glory? Isn’t it ridiculous?

That sages became idiots and fools overnight.

“And you’ve probably done some inciting as well.”

They spread rumors to be perceived that way.

To avoid people’s attention.

Yes, this much is easy to predict. Then an important question remains.

“Why are the dragon tribes trying to hide?”

“……”

The woman didn’t say anything.

In fact, she hadn’t been speaking at all for a while. She wasn’t even thinking.

She just glared at Esmeralda.

As if a screen had formed in her mind, Esmeralda couldn’t read her surface thoughts.

“Hahah.”

Esmeralda laughed. She thought it was plausible.

Even Eirene could manipulate her surface thoughts, so why would they be any different?

Millia could layer numerous thoughts over her true intentions to prevent her surface thoughts from being read, so why couldn’t they do the same?

There must be some method, and they know about Esmeralda’s ability.

No, even if they didn’t know, they were still guarding against it.

“Ah, I don’t like primitive methods.”

“Are you going to torture me?”

But even without reading thoughts, it’s not impossible to extract desired answers from someone.

The woman sneered.

However, she couldn’t hide the fear in her eyes.

Yes, they aren’t professionally trained assassins or spies.

They’re probably scholars by profession.

That’s what they’re known as publicly, and considering their lectures and various activities, that must be the minimum requirement.

So it’s reasonable to think they’re scholars who gained power.

Then how much torture could they endure?

‘But inflicting pain isn’t really a good method, and I’m not confident in my ability to do it.’

In truth, she doesn’t know how to torture.

Usually, it was Eirene who extracted information from demons.

She would take demons away saying she was going to preach to them, but considering that none of those demons ever returned, the outcome is obvious.

Esmeralda had felt chills every time she heard the information recited by those who claimed to have repented.

But it was convenient.

So she never felt the need to learn.

“Hmm.”

Esmeralda doesn’t know how to torture. But since her opponent is a woman, she knows what would make her uncomfortable.

She immediately turned her head and stared at Lug, who was blankly looking this way.

Yes, he could do it.

“Mr. Lug.”

“Yes?”

“You can touch this lady’s chest as you please.”

“What?”

“You can lick it if you want.”

“WHAT?!”

There are more methods of torture than just inflicting pain.

As a woman, she knows well what would be unpleasant.

Of course, if Lug were to cross the line, she would stop him…

‘Could you withstand Lug’s sexual urges that even Eirene couldn’t resist?’

Esmeralda believed in Lug.

She believed in his maddening sexual desire.

But Lug mocked Esmeralda’s belief and said:

“I have no interest in the chest of such an ugly woman. I’d rather touch Tina’s non-existent quantum physics chest. Hmph.”

Lug’s taste was firm.

Despite being incompetent, his standards for women were quite high.

Hearing this, Esmeralda sighed in disbelief.

Secretly, she wasn’t too upset since she thought she qualified as beautiful by Lug’s standards.

But the woman who was the subject of those words gritted her teeth. She couldn’t forgive that mocking expression.

“I’ll tell you everything I know, just let me hit that bastard once.”

“Ah, yes…”

Esmeralda was able to get information from the woman.

Unfortunately, it only confirmed what she had already guessed.

The woman seemed to be a low-ranking member.

It seemed she would need to investigate further to find out what the dragon tribes were plotting.

By the way, as soon as the woman received emergency treatment with a potion, she didn’t even worry about her severed wrist and delivered a magnificent right straight to Lug’s face.

“You bastard! How handsome do you think you are to be judging others!”

“Guh?!”

Esmeralda secretly trembled at the sight of this woman who fought like a warrior of reversal, feeling no pain.

‘Is this really the same person who became incapacitated immediately after having her wrist cut off?’

She felt the woman would have been stronger fighting on the front lines with her fists rather than in the rear.